Wednesday, March 02, 2016

6-.PAAK



Malibu Anderson Paak Release Date: January 15, 2016
Label: Steel Wool / Obe

“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.” --Plato

There is something that is really, really special about this Malibu LP by Anderson .Paak.  I encourage you to spend the $12 and change; which is a tremendous discount in this era of downloaded noise. 
I believe when it’s all said and done this release will be on the same musical flag pole as D Angelo’s “Brown Sugar”, Kendrick Lamar’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” or Marvin Gaye’s “Trouble Man”.   

“Malibu” is a 16-tracked, groove gumbo plate of funk, blues, Hip Hop, folk, Jazz, and R&B.  This musical journey will raise the brow of everyone from: Sly Stone, Van Hunt, Bilal, Lupe Fiasco & J.Dilla and when the journey is complete you will only need a wash cloth and cigarette. 
This gem has solved my nightly commuting quandary between The Karen Hunter Show (Urban Radio, Sirius XM) and Bomani Jones (ESPN)—two great shows that I haven’t listened to in 2 weeks. 



The production credits of: Hi-Tek, 9th Wonder, DJ Khalil, Madlib, Chris Dave (just to name a few
) is proof of Anderson’s indiscriminate approach to this amazing 61 minute ride. .Paak's semi-autobiographical depiction isn’t always pretty, but it’s justly poetic.
I can’t begin to pick a favorite track.  However, I am positive that my next speeding ticket can be directly traced to “Without You” f. Rapsody—which has an out-of-this-world sample by Hiatus Kaiyote.  That song should come with a neck brace and an alibi.

The vibe on “Room In Here”, is on some straight, Brut by FabergĂ©; subwoofer in the trunk, early 90’s R&B tip. Then with little warning, The Game grips the mic with his best Nas impression to transform the already brilliant track into this K.Dot-like era. Game’s sophomoric description of some California Dyme who dropped by the studio wasn’t anything new and the song could’ve held its own without him.  His bars was less than necessary but it certainly wasn’t wasted and it definitely added to unpredictability of the journey through Malibu—thus making a near miss incredibly dope.

After 50+ minutes the CD is highlighted with “The Dreamer” (featuring Talib Kweli) which feels like an ode to the Black Panther Party Movement.  I am here to tell you; you could not tie a neater ribbon on this party gift even if Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Mother Theresa collaborated on the invitations.

 Soul music is about longevity and reaching and touching people on a human level - and that's never going to get lost.  --Jill Scott

HOW THE WEST WAS WON

  There are just over 425 days until the next presidential selection. And from all the unofficial, official, on-air political pundits, cable...